Chiang mai: Chiang Mai currently holds the unfortunate distinction of having the worst air quality in the world due to severe PM2.5 air pollution, consistently ranking first in global air quality indices. The Chiang Dao district is experiencing the most significant impact, with PM2.5 levels soaring over 800 micrograms per cubic meter, surpassing safety standards by an alarming margin.

According to Thai News Agency, the skies over Chiang Mai are blanketed with dense dust, drastically reducing visibility across the city. Buildings and houses are shrouded in a thick haze, rendering them almost invisible. Even airplanes traversing the airspace are obscured, visible only as faint silhouettes through the thick white curtain of pollution.

The city's streets are enveloped in smog, compelling motorcyclists to don face masks, scarves, and glasses as a protective measure against the toxic air. Many residents report nasal and eye irritation due to prolonged exposure to the dust-laden environment. Food delivery riders, who spend hours each day navigating the streets in these conditions, express concern over the deteriorating air quality, acknowledging the health risks yet compelled to work to sustain their livelihoods.

Air quality data from the Climate Change Information Center at Chiang Mai University reveals that all 111 air quality monitoring stations across Chiang Mai province report PM2.5 levels in the hazardous red zone. Notably, the Ban Pang Mayao Sub-district Health Promotion Hospital in Chiang Dao recorded an alarming PM2.5 level of 905 micrograms per cubic meter at 11:00 AM, a figure over 20 times the safety standard.